Friday, July 05, 2013

Daily Devotional Thought--From the Lutheran Confessions

It’s Friday!
That means we turn out attention to the Augsburg Confession. This week’s
topic is one that comes as a bit of a surprise to us Lutherans in America,
especially in regards to how the Reformers viewed the role of individual Confession
(and Absolution). But notice how the
emphasis is always on the Absolution, the announcement of the forgiveness of
sins. Enjoy!

Collect of the Week

Lord of all power and might, author and giver of all good
things, graft into our hearts the love of Your name and nourish us with all
goodness that we may love and serve our neighbor; through Jesus Christ, Your
Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now
and forever. Amen.

Article XI (Confession)

1 Our churches
teach that private Absolution should be retained in the churches, although
listing all sins is not necessary for Confession. 2 For,
according to the Psalm, it is impossible. “Who can discern his errors?” (Psalm
19:12). (Concordia: The Lutheran
Confessions. Edited by Paul Timothy McCain. St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing
House, 2005, S. 35).

Note:

By
the time of the Reformation, the practice of confessing sins privately and
confidentially to a pastor had been a well-accepted church practice for over a
thousand years. Private Confession and Absolution was never something Lutherans
wanted to get rid of. As time went on, the practice fell into disuse, but
clearly Article XI assumes that private Confession and Absolution will take
place in the Lutheran Church. The problem addressed by this article is that the
Roman Church demanded every sin be recalled and confessed. Clearly, this is
humanly impossible and makes our forgiveness dependent on our work. Such
teaching is certainly dangerous to repentant consciences, which need firm
assurance that Christ forgives all sin. (See also Ap
XI; SA III VIII; Appendix B, An Exhortation to
Confession.) (Concordia: The Lutheran
Confessions. Edited by Paul Timothy McCain. St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing
House, 2005, S. 35)

Prayer

Almighty,
everlasting God, for our many sins we justly deserve eternal condemnation. In Your
mercy You sent Your dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who won for us forgiveness
of sins and everlasting salvation. Grant us a true confession that, dead to
sin, we may be raised up by Your life-giving absolution. Grant us Your Holy Spirit
that we may be ever watchful and live true and godly lives in Your service;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord (LSB, collect
#153).